Frequently Asked Questions

I get these questions a lot, hence they are frequent.

How did you get diagnosed?

I was clinically diagnosed based on extensive testing that ruled out other conditions, including CT scans, brain MRI’s, autoimmune panels, endocrine panels, cardiac workups, neurotransmitter levels, allergy panels, and others. I had a long history of tick exposure, had lived in more endemic areas, and grew up surrounded by animals such as horses and dogs. My symptom patterns fell in line with Lyme disease. All of my testing for Lyme (several ELISAs, Western Blot, and some co-infection testing) all initially came back negative.

Eight months in to aggressive IV antibiotic therapy I produced a positive Lyme IFA test.

Who is your doctor?

I go to the Jemsek Specialty Clinic in Washington, D.C.

What is your protocol?

In short, multiple antibiotics, anti-malarials, and anti-parasitics stacked, rotated, and pulsed. I have agreed to not disclose specifics social media. I also take many herbs and supplements and maintain a gluten free, sugar-free, low-carb diet. Please message through the Contact Me tab if you have further questions.

Do you incorporate herbs or supplements? Have you tried to heal things naturally?

Yes, to both. I experienced my first flare of Lyme disease as a young adult (which you can read about here) and it lasted two years. I recovered on my own through diet, herbs, and supplements. Because I relapsed again ten years later, and much worse, I chose a different, more aggressive route.

How long will you stay on antibiotics?

Until I stop progressing with them.

How do you tolerate aggressive treatment?

By the sheer will to live, frankly. But I also credit the majority of my tolerance to stabilizing on specific medications prior to starting treatment. When there is CNS involvement, herxheimer reactions typically cause an over-production or under-production of nerve impulses in response to the sudden increase in inflammation. This is the cause of many intolerable and even dangerous symptoms during those reactions (including pain). Seizure medication (even if you don’t specifically suffer from seizures) by their very nature prevents over-active nerve impulses and will reduce the resulting nerve meltdowns (sometimes dramatically). Consider it a surge protector for your brain during treatment. I couldn’t have tolerated treatment without it.

Don’t you know that antibiotics poison you and destroy your gut?

Can’t we all just get along?

What do you do to maintain gut health?

I take high doses of multi-strained probiotics daily, including saccromyces boulardii. I take a good quality pre-biotic. I drink raw milk from a trusted source for the oodles of natural flora contained within it. I eat fermented foods. I also maintain a very low sugar and carbohydrate diet so as to discourage candida and other negative yuckies from flourishing.